Freddy's three thoughts of the game ...
1. Top notch, top notch: Minnesota State's top line of C.J. Suess, Marc Michaelis and Parker Tuomie, which was put together as a trio for the first time this season on Friday, was dominant in what was essentially a must-win for the Mavericks on Saturday. The group compiled eight points, including a two-goal, one-assist performance by Suess. Although he didn't get an assist on Daniel Brickley's goal, Suess did a lot of the dirty work in the offensive zone that eventually set up the scoring play. "He's been pretty consistent," Michaelis said of Suess. "He plays like a man. He wins his battles and plays a 200-foot game." Suess now has a team- and WCHA-leading 26 points (10-16).
2. More about Marc: Michaelis missed the Mavericks' last four games before Christmas and returned to action on Friday. Perhaps one game was all the adjustment he needed to get back in the groove as he had a goal and two assists Saturday, especially in the third period when he scored a key insurance goal. (The puck went in off his skate on a Riese Zmolek shot, but he was going hard to the net with a defender all over him.) "It was terrible watching," Michaelis said of being injured. "Ask any player whose been scratched. I had a lot of time to prepare." Michaelis now has 16 points.
3. Big rebound: The series-opening loss to Northern Michigan was the first Friday-night loss of the season for the Mavericks, so it was going to be interesting to see how they reacted. They certainly didn't want to get swept at home, nor did they want to drop out of first place in the WCHA standings. That's why it was as close to a must-win as you could have for a pre-Jan. 1 game. Not only was that top line great, but Jason Pawloski was solid in goal, especially to help a penalty kill that had its work cut out for it in the second period and early third. Six of Pawloski's 23 saves came against the WCHA's leading goal scorer, Robbie Payne, who was kept off the board.
Read my game story here.
Around the WCHA: Bemidji State 4, Alabama Huntsville 1 ... Lake Superior State 4, Arizona State 1
Saturday, December 30, 2017
Live: Minnesota State vs. Northern Michigan
The Mavericks will try to get a series split when they play the Wildcats in the second game of the weekend between the top two teams in the WCHA. Just two points separate MSU and NMU. Follow along with the action below tonight's lines.
MINNESOTA STATE
6-Tuomie, 15-Suess, 20-Michaelis
16-Lutz, 5-Jaremko, 10-Knutson
23-Rivera, 26-French, 19-McClure
9-Gerard, 11-Spooner, 12-Coatta
8-Brickley, 18-Sheid
25-Zmolek, 2-Mackey
4-Lewis, 3-McNeely
39-Pawloski
37-LaCouvee
29-Nelson
Scratches: Bigelbach, Cooper, Duehr, Gerads, Hookenson, Schwalbe, Vanko
NORTHERN MICHIGAN
29-Payne, 18-Nardi, 7-Diamantoni
9-Loggins, 11-Rockwood, 86-Hannoun
23-Slattery, 13-Voltin, 37-Craighead
19-Starzynski, 21-Paskaruk, 12-Heikkila
40-Klimek, 25-Beaulieu
2-Vermeulen, 3-Fosdick
44-Black, 27-Roeder
41-Tolvanen
32-Israelsson
MINNESOTA STATE
6-Tuomie, 15-Suess, 20-Michaelis
16-Lutz, 5-Jaremko, 10-Knutson
23-Rivera, 26-French, 19-McClure
9-Gerard, 11-Spooner, 12-Coatta
8-Brickley, 18-Sheid
25-Zmolek, 2-Mackey
4-Lewis, 3-McNeely
39-Pawloski
37-LaCouvee
29-Nelson
Scratches: Bigelbach, Cooper, Duehr, Gerads, Hookenson, Schwalbe, Vanko
NORTHERN MICHIGAN
29-Payne, 18-Nardi, 7-Diamantoni
9-Loggins, 11-Rockwood, 86-Hannoun
23-Slattery, 13-Voltin, 37-Craighead
19-Starzynski, 21-Paskaruk, 12-Heikkila
40-Klimek, 25-Beaulieu
2-Vermeulen, 3-Fosdick
44-Black, 27-Roeder
41-Tolvanen
32-Israelsson
Friday, December 29, 2017
Wildcats 4, Mavericks 3
Freddy's three thoughts of the game ...
1. How odd: When the Mavericks are playing well, they don't give up many odd-man rushes. But they gave up more than their usual share on Friday, and it proved costly. A couple of turnovers and a fallen D-man led to the dagger, a 2-on-1 finished off by Joseph Nardi with 36.1 seconds left in the game. Minnesota State also gave up a goal off a bad line change, another by leaving the WCHA's best goal scorer, Robbie Payne, all alone below the left circle and one on the first shot of the game for NMU, one goaltender Connor LaCouvee undoubtedly would like to have back.
2. Race tightens: As I mention in my gamer (link below), there's now a close race between the Mavericks and the Wildcats as they begin the second half of the WCHA schedule. Just two points separate MSU and NMU atop the WCHA standings. They split a series in early November in Marquette. If they split again this weekend, the Mavericks will still be up five points. If the Wildcats pull off the road sweep, they'll be in first place by a point. There's a lot of season left, of course, it feels like Saturday's game is a big one.
3. Bright spots: Jake Jaremko, Parker Tuomie and Riese Zmolek each had a goal and an assist for the Mavericks. Jarmeko continues to impress as a rookie. He extended his point streak to 10 games and now has 20 points. Tuomie was playing on a line with C.J. Suess and Marc Michaelis on Friday and scored what seemed like a big game-tying goal with 5:10 left in the game. Zmolek, the freshman, was called the team's best defenseman in the game by coach Mike Hastings afterward for his play at both ends of the ice.
Read my game story here.
Around the WCHA: Bemidji State 3, Alabama Huntsville 1 ... Robert Morris 5, Lake Superior State 0
1. How odd: When the Mavericks are playing well, they don't give up many odd-man rushes. But they gave up more than their usual share on Friday, and it proved costly. A couple of turnovers and a fallen D-man led to the dagger, a 2-on-1 finished off by Joseph Nardi with 36.1 seconds left in the game. Minnesota State also gave up a goal off a bad line change, another by leaving the WCHA's best goal scorer, Robbie Payne, all alone below the left circle and one on the first shot of the game for NMU, one goaltender Connor LaCouvee undoubtedly would like to have back.
2. Race tightens: As I mention in my gamer (link below), there's now a close race between the Mavericks and the Wildcats as they begin the second half of the WCHA schedule. Just two points separate MSU and NMU atop the WCHA standings. They split a series in early November in Marquette. If they split again this weekend, the Mavericks will still be up five points. If the Wildcats pull off the road sweep, they'll be in first place by a point. There's a lot of season left, of course, it feels like Saturday's game is a big one.
3. Bright spots: Jake Jaremko, Parker Tuomie and Riese Zmolek each had a goal and an assist for the Mavericks. Jarmeko continues to impress as a rookie. He extended his point streak to 10 games and now has 20 points. Tuomie was playing on a line with C.J. Suess and Marc Michaelis on Friday and scored what seemed like a big game-tying goal with 5:10 left in the game. Zmolek, the freshman, was called the team's best defenseman in the game by coach Mike Hastings afterward for his play at both ends of the ice.
Read my game story here.
Around the WCHA: Bemidji State 3, Alabama Huntsville 1 ... Robert Morris 5, Lake Superior State 0
Live: Minnesota State vs. Northern Michigan
The Mavericks and Wildcats will close out 2017 with a WCHA series at the Verizon Center. Game 1 is tonight at 7:07 p.m. Follow the action below tonight's lines.
MINNESOTA STATE
6-Tuomie, 15-Suess, 20-Michaelis
16-Lutz, 5-Jaremk, 10-Knutson
23-Rivera, 26-French, 19-McClure
17-Duehr, 11-Spooner, 12-Coatta
8-Brickley, 18-Scheid
25-Zmolek, 2-Mackey
4-Lewis, 3-McNeely
37-LaCouvee
39-Pawloski
29-Nelson
Scratches: Bigelbach, Cooper, Gerads, Gerard, Hookenson, Schwalbe, Vanko
NORTHERN MICHIGAN
9-Loggins, 11-Rockwood, 8-Pierce
29-Payne, 18-Nardi, 86-Hannoun
23-Slattery, 13-Voltin, 37-Craighead
19-Starzynski, 21-Paskaruk, 12-Heikkila
40-Klimek, 25-Beaulieu
2-Vermeulen, 3-Fosdick
44-Black, 4-Frantti
41-Tolvanen
32-Israelsson
MINNESOTA STATE
6-Tuomie, 15-Suess, 20-Michaelis
16-Lutz, 5-Jaremk, 10-Knutson
23-Rivera, 26-French, 19-McClure
17-Duehr, 11-Spooner, 12-Coatta
8-Brickley, 18-Scheid
25-Zmolek, 2-Mackey
4-Lewis, 3-McNeely
37-LaCouvee
39-Pawloski
29-Nelson
Scratches: Bigelbach, Cooper, Gerads, Gerard, Hookenson, Schwalbe, Vanko
NORTHERN MICHIGAN
9-Loggins, 11-Rockwood, 8-Pierce
29-Payne, 18-Nardi, 86-Hannoun
23-Slattery, 13-Voltin, 37-Craighead
19-Starzynski, 21-Paskaruk, 12-Heikkila
40-Klimek, 25-Beaulieu
2-Vermeulen, 3-Fosdick
44-Black, 4-Frantti
41-Tolvanen
32-Israelsson
Friday Morning Skate
The Mavericks are back in action after a week off and will host Northern Michigan in what should be an entertaining WCHA series at the Verizon Center.
There's good news-bad-news on the injury front for MSU as Marc Michaelis is back in the lineup after missing the last four games but Dallas Gerads remains out after taking the elbow to the head late in the Mavericks' last game against Alabama Huntsville. Gerads will miss both games this weekend, as will the player who hit him, UAH's Brennan Saulnier, who was suspended for two games. Saulnier will be back next week, but will Gerads?
Previewing the Mavericks-Wildcats series, Minnesota State has been getting great contributions from its rookies. The top two forwards in that group, Elk River's Jake Jaremko and Reggie Lutz, have been, with a few exception, hockey teammates since their were 5 years old.
Minnesota State finished the first half of the season in a good spot, atop the WCHA and sixth in the Pairwise rankings, however, the team wants to keep climbing in the second half.
For more on the weekend, be sure to check out the College Hockey Gameday feature.
As for Northern Michigan, it will be without first-year head coach Grant Potulny, who is an assistant coach with the U.S. Junior National Team playing at the World Junior Championships in Buffalo, N.Y.
Going around the WCHA ...
Bowling Green played Western Michigan on Thursday night and fell 5-2, another tough nonconference result for the WCHA.
Bemidji State hosts previously mentioned Alabama Huntsville in the only other conference series tonight and Saturday. The Beavers enter the weekend riding a five-game unbeaten streak.
Lake Superior State is playing in the Three Rivers Classic in Pittsburgh. The Lakers are playing Robert Morris today and either Arizona State or Providence on Saturday.
On Monday and Tuesday, Michigan Tech and Bowling Green are playing in the Great Lakes Invitational in Detroit with the former starting the tournament against Michigan State and the latter taking on Michigan.
Monday, December 18, 2017
Chargers' Saulnier suspended
Alabama Huntsville senior forward Brennan Saulnier was suspended for two games by the WCHA for his illegal hit to a Minnesota State player's head during Saturday's hockey game at the Verizon Center, the league announced on Monday afternoon.
With 30 seconds remaining in the game, Saulnier elbowed MSU freshman Dallas Gerads, who lay on the ice for several minutes before getting assisted out of the rink. Mavericks coach Mike Hastings said Gerads was "not healthy" and likely had a concussion.
Saulnier received a five-minute major penalty and a game misconduct for contact to the head but not a game disqualification, which comes with an automatic one-game suspension. The WCHA reviewed the play and on Monday determined that the hit warranted a two-game ban.
Saunier will miss the Chargers games Dec. 29-30 at Bemidji State. It is the third supplementary-discipline suspension of Saulnier's college career.
Saulnier has received one other suspension due to a game DQ for fighting last season. Over his 3+ seasons he has received eight game misconducts that coupled with major penalties, including Saturday's, according to an examination of box scores on collegehockeystats.net. The infractions have included contact to the head (3), checking/hitting from behind (3), charging (1) and roughing (1).
With 30 seconds remaining in the game, Saulnier elbowed MSU freshman Dallas Gerads, who lay on the ice for several minutes before getting assisted out of the rink. Mavericks coach Mike Hastings said Gerads was "not healthy" and likely had a concussion.
Saulnier received a five-minute major penalty and a game misconduct for contact to the head but not a game disqualification, which comes with an automatic one-game suspension. The WCHA reviewed the play and on Monday determined that the hit warranted a two-game ban.
Saunier will miss the Chargers games Dec. 29-30 at Bemidji State. It is the third supplementary-discipline suspension of Saulnier's college career.
Saulnier has received one other suspension due to a game DQ for fighting last season. Over his 3+ seasons he has received eight game misconducts that coupled with major penalties, including Saturday's, according to an examination of box scores on collegehockeystats.net. The infractions have included contact to the head (3), checking/hitting from behind (3), charging (1) and roughing (1).
Saturday, December 16, 2017
Mavericks 3, Chargers 0
Freddy's three thoughts of the game:
1. Back on top: Minnesota State's sweep of Alabama Huntsville put it back in first place in the WCHA standings, five points ahead of Bowling Green, Northern Michigan (MSU's next opponent) and Michigan Tech. Tech has played four more games than MSU and BG, however. At the halfway mark of the conference schedule, the Mavericks are 11-3 against conference opponents. In their last four games, all wins, they have outscored Lake Superior State and Alabama Huntsville 20-2. That streak came after a 3-1 loss at Minnesota Duluth. "I think the work the guys did collectively," coach Mike Hastings said of the turnaround from that game. "They’re holding each other accountable and working for each other, knowing that what one does sets the other up for success. … We’ve been better offensively but better defensively also."
2. Better start: Minnesota State started better than it did on Friday, getting a 1-0 lead on freshman Reggie Lutz's power-play goal. It was Lutz's third goal and 11th point, and it came on a similar play to a first-period power-play chance on Friday that was turned away with an amazing save. Goaltender Connor LaCouvee had to make a couple tough saves early on, too, en route to his second straight shutout (more on him in my Monday series notebook). "I knew they’d come," Hastings said of the Chargers. "They’ve won in some pretty difficult buildings, Tech, Bowling Green Northern. They’re prideful in what they’re doing also. It was a pretty good pace to that first period going both ways."
3. Dirty play? It will be interesting to see if the WCHA punishes UAH's Brennan Saulnier for the elbow to the head of Dallas Gerads with 30 seconds left in the game. Gerads had to be helped out of the rink and could barely lift his head up as he departed. Hastings was livid on the bench, directing ire at his counterpart, Mike Corbett, but also at the referees, apparently arguing for a game disqualification for Saulnier. The Chargers senior got a 5-minute major and a game misconduct. Saulnier does have a history. He has twice been suspended by the league for head contact, getting two gameslast January in January of 2016 and a one-game ban in October of 2015.
Read my game story, which focuses on the stellar play of senior C.J. Suess (two goals, four on the weekend) here.
Around the WCHA: Bemidji State 4, Alaska Anchorage 0 ... Northern Michigan 4, Ferris State 2 ... Michigan Tech 3, Lake Superior State 3 (Tech wins in shootout)
Puckato Postgame Show:
1. Back on top: Minnesota State's sweep of Alabama Huntsville put it back in first place in the WCHA standings, five points ahead of Bowling Green, Northern Michigan (MSU's next opponent) and Michigan Tech. Tech has played four more games than MSU and BG, however. At the halfway mark of the conference schedule, the Mavericks are 11-3 against conference opponents. In their last four games, all wins, they have outscored Lake Superior State and Alabama Huntsville 20-2. That streak came after a 3-1 loss at Minnesota Duluth. "I think the work the guys did collectively," coach Mike Hastings said of the turnaround from that game. "They’re holding each other accountable and working for each other, knowing that what one does sets the other up for success. … We’ve been better offensively but better defensively also."
2. Better start: Minnesota State started better than it did on Friday, getting a 1-0 lead on freshman Reggie Lutz's power-play goal. It was Lutz's third goal and 11th point, and it came on a similar play to a first-period power-play chance on Friday that was turned away with an amazing save. Goaltender Connor LaCouvee had to make a couple tough saves early on, too, en route to his second straight shutout (more on him in my Monday series notebook). "I knew they’d come," Hastings said of the Chargers. "They’ve won in some pretty difficult buildings, Tech, Bowling Green Northern. They’re prideful in what they’re doing also. It was a pretty good pace to that first period going both ways."
3. Dirty play? It will be interesting to see if the WCHA punishes UAH's Brennan Saulnier for the elbow to the head of Dallas Gerads with 30 seconds left in the game. Gerads had to be helped out of the rink and could barely lift his head up as he departed. Hastings was livid on the bench, directing ire at his counterpart, Mike Corbett, but also at the referees, apparently arguing for a game disqualification for Saulnier. The Chargers senior got a 5-minute major and a game misconduct. Saulnier does have a history. He has twice been suspended by the league for head contact, getting two games
Read my game story, which focuses on the stellar play of senior C.J. Suess (two goals, four on the weekend) here.
Around the WCHA: Bemidji State 4, Alaska Anchorage 0 ... Northern Michigan 4, Ferris State 2 ... Michigan Tech 3, Lake Superior State 3 (Tech wins in shootout)
Puckato Postgame Show:
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